Mysuru: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that is probing the alleged irregularities at the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has began its investigation. It has questioned former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore Prof. K.S. Rangappa who was also the KSOU Vice-Chancellor.

The team is functioning from the first floor of the Jayalakshmipuram Police Station from the office of the Cyber Crime Police. The team is headed by S. Revanna, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Economic Offences wing, CID, Bengaluru and is assisted by CID Inspector Hemalatha. The team arrived in Mysuru on Apr. 13 and is verifying records, collecting evidence and is also questioning the accused.

Prof K.S. Rangappa and six others have been booked under various sections of the IPC for alleged misappropriation of funds in the KSOU. The Karnataka Governor’s office had written to the KSOU to file a case against Prof. Rangappa, another former KSOU VC Prof. M.G. Krishnan, former KSOU Dean T.D. Devegowda, former KSOU Registrar Prof. B.S. Vishwanath, KSOU Director (IT division) Dr. Kamlesh, Deputy Registrar of KSOU Ramanathan and former KSOU Registrar (Administration) P.S. Naik.

Prof. Rangappa was summoned to the Cyber Crime Police atop Jayalakshmipuram Police Station on Apr. 13 and was questioned about the irregularities. Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Prof. Rangappa said that he had appeared before the CID team along with relevant records.

“The team questioned me for about 15 minutes and I had gone there with all the records. Around 20 days back, the CID team had called me and had asked me to appear before it in Bengaluru. As I was out of the country, I had expressed my inability. I have explained the case to them in detail now,” he said.

Prof. M.G. Krishnan told SOM that he was summoned on Apr. 18 and was questioned for over an hour. “I had taken some documents along with the ones I had obtained under RTI and answered the CID team’s questions,” he said.

Sources said that the team will question the other accused too and it might take a couple of days for it to wind up the questioning process and carry out further investigation. The team will also visit the KSOU offices to examine records.

It may be recalled here that the case against the accused was lodged by KSOU Finance Officer A. Khadar Pasha based on the directive by the then KSOU Vice-Chancellor D. Shivalingaiah in August 2016.

The Governor’s Office had asked the Varsity to initiate legal action against the wrongdoers and had constituted Justice Bhakthavatsala Committee to probe the alleged irregularities between 2009 and 2014. The Committee had indicted the employees for irregularities.